Current owner(s) Ronda Breeden Street address 210 E 8th St County Hamilton | Food type American | |
Previous owner(s) Susan Fawcett, Simon Arnold, Jim Christakos, Jim Tarbell | ||
Arnold's Bar and Grill is the oldest continuously-operating bar in Cincinnati, Ohio and one of the oldest in the United States.
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History
The establishment was first opened in 1838 by Susan Fawcett as "a whorehouse," according to Cincinnati historian Mike Morgan. In 1861, new owner Simon Arnold operated it as a bar and lived upstairs. The Arnold family operated the bar through three generations until 1959, when they sold it to former professional wrestler and mob collector Jim Christakos, who also lived upstairs.
In 1976, Cincinnati City Council member Jim Tarbell purchased it from Christakos and also moved in upstairs. He expanded the bar to include a large outdoor courtyard. In 1998 longtime Arnold's server, Ronda Breeden bought it to run with her son Chris Breeden.
During prohibition the bar operated as a speakeasy. The building is rumored to be haunted.
Reception
One of America's oldest and most celebrated bars, Arnold's Bar and Grill in Downtown Cincinnati has won awards and accolades from several National media publications. Including Esquire Magazine's "Best Bars in America", Thrillist's "Most Iconic Bar in Ohio", The Daily Meals "150 Best bars in America" and Seriouseats.com's "The Cincinnati 10". America's Foremost Cocktail Guru, David Wondrich stated that "if Arnold's were in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, or Boston – somewhere, in short, that people actually visit – it would be world-famous."